I sigh. Of course he is. What did Teddy’s security guard say? They’re all well connected. In a dehumanizing system that turns victims into perpetrators, there are so many things Ryan might have done that could have hurt his father’s chances at the election. I think of the video, the boy writhing on the floor, shame and the desire to belong forcing him to protect their shared secrets, and my anger flickers, verging toward pity, so instead I remember that night. The flash and heat and searing pain. The voices. The certainty there was more than one person.

“Were there others?”

“I don’t know.” Tripp slumps against his seat.

I give him a hard look, but he doesn’t blink.

So it was all of them. The manipulated and the manipulators. Doing whatever they wanted without care or consequence.

Jay took what Michael started one step further. He turned Michael’s threats into action and directed them at someone who refused to buy into their bullshit, who pointed out the contradictions between their behavior and their creed. But Colin didn’t want the footage getting out either—wasn’t willing to risk destroying his own image to unmask the fraternity. And ultimately, all the pretending to be Jay slowly chipped away at his identity. He thought the brothers were assholes but still made up stories for his father about Kap-O parties and the lake. He hated Jay as much as he wanted to be him—a cycle that could only end with Jay’s death.

Tripp’s watching me, a defensive flinch in his eyes.

“What else?” I ask, zeroing in on the guilt in his face.

He runs his hands over his hair. “I don’t know,” he says miserably. “The thing with Colin—it was getting out of control. That’s how I found out—Jay told me Colin had been sneaking into his room. Messing with his things. He said Colin told Katie about our initiation rituals, about the basement—” A bewildered shake of the head. “Said it was the only explanation, but I—” He squeezes his eyes shut. “I didn’t believe him. I thought Jay told her about the basement to impress her or something. But then it backfired.” A sharp exhale through his nose. “She was disgusted, you know. Katie. With Jay. With all of us. She came to see me—said she didn’t want to be the dream girl anymore. That people should know we were hazing our new recruits.”

“She said that?”